Migrants with diptheria symptoms will no longer be allowed to leave Manston centre

Migrants with diptheria symptoms will no longer be allowed to leave the Manston processing centre in Kent – or will instead be sent to Covid-style isolation hotels – from today.

As part of Government action to deal with a rise in the number of infections, immigration minister Robert Jenrick this afternoon announced fresh guidance on the housing of asylum seekers.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Jenrick confirmed that 50 cases of diptheria had now been reported in asylum accommodation.

He also told MPs that one person who had been staying at the Manston centre died in hospital with an infectious disease after arriving in Britain a week before.

There have been fears about the risk of diptheria being spread across the country following reports that dozens of asylum seekers with suspected infections have already been moved from Manston to hotels around the UK.

Mr Jenrick insisted the risk to the wider British population from onward transmission was ‘very low’ due to the nationwide childhood vaccination programme.

But he stressed that ministers would be ‘vigilant’ over the issue, telling MPs: ‘From today, no one presenting with symptoms will progress into the asylum accommodation system.

‘They will either remain at Manston, isolating for a short period, or they will travel to a designated isolation centre in secure transport where they will be treated until deemed medically fit.

‘This is a well-practised protocol from Covid times.’

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick confirmed that 50 cases of diptheria had now been reported in asylum accommodation

Migrants with diptheria symptoms will no longer be allowed to leave the Manston processing centre in Kent – or will instead be sent to Covid-style isolation hotels

The cases of diptheria have been reported following recent chaotic overcrowding at the Manston centre, near Ramsgate

Mr Jenrick said local public health officials would be working to find people with diphtheria cases who had been transferred to other parts of the UK.

Any infected migrants would be required to ‘isolate in their rooms within those hotels or other forms of accommodation’, he added. 

Mr Jenrick also told the Commons that 100 per cent of migrants who arrived at Manston this weekend had taken up the offer of a diptehria vaccine.

He highlighted ‘robust screening processes’ when asylum seekers arrive in Britain, as well as ’round-the-clock’ health facilities at Manston.

The Government is under huge pressure over its handling of the asylum system amid the Channel migrant crisis, which has seen more than 40,000 people journey to Britain on small boats this year.

The cases of diptheria have been reported following recent chaotic overcrowding at the Manston centre, near Ramsgate, which ministers conceded had left the site operating illegally.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously denied claims she blocked the transfer of thousands of migrants to hotels this summer.

This is said to have directly led to overcrowding and outbreaks of diptheria and scabies among migrants.

Mrs Braverman has also denied claims she ignored legal advice that migrants were being detained for unlawfully long periods at Manston.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is under huge pressure over her handling of Britain’s asylum system amid the Channel migrant crisis

Labour’s Yvette Cooper claimed Mr Jenrick was among those who had been left to ‘clear up the Home Secretary’s chaos’

Labour claimed Mr Jenrick was among those who had been left to ‘clear up the Home Secretary’s chaos’ after he set out the new action to deal with the diptheria cases this afternoon.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked why Mrs Braverman had not attended the Commons herself and also quizzed Mr Jenrick on when ministers were first warned about the infectious disease outbreak.

She said: ‘The processes that he has just described now clearly are important, but why on earth were they not put in place many weeks ago?

‘It took until November 11 after thousands of people had been held there for weeks for screening and vaccinations on diphtheria to be recommended for everyone passing through Manston.’